Five Baby Austins From the UK

Austin 7s on Route 66

This tour is being undertaken by a small group of enthusiasts from Great Britain.  They are driving 5 of the famous pre-war, 750 cc, 75” wheel base, Austin Seven ‘baby cars’.

The crews are all members of the, UK, 750 Motor Club – founded in 1939, mainly for such cars.

There is a ‘modern’ car in support.  The driver and her American domiciled daughter, who is co-driving one of the Austins, are doing the journey in memory of their late husband and father who had hoped to travel Route 66.

All the cars have travelled extensively in Europe in their Sevens and 3 of them completed a 3,500 mile journey from Buenos Aires, via the Andes, to Santiago, Chile and back in Feb 2005.

The cars date from 1929 to 1938 and are the type of car on which the ‘American Austin’ and ‘Bantam’ cars were based.  Jack Rittenhouse did the journey in a 1939 Bantam in 1946 and wrote about it in his book, “A Guide Book to Highway 66” - another inspiration for the trip – 60 years on.

The cars arrived in New York by sea and the crews by air on the 23rd of August. On the 27th of August they drive to Chicago, stopping off at Butler, where the American Austin and Bantams were made.

They start their epic 2,450 mile journey on the 2nd of September and plan to arrive in Los Angeles on the 21st.

The cars and their drivers will return to the UK the 28th of September.

The participants are as follows;
  Richard and Marlies Bishop from Exeter, Devon, in a 1938 sports.
  Ken and Eileen Cooke from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in a 1930 4 seater tourer.
  Vince Leek from Warminster, Wilts, and Diana Garside from Nth Carolina in a 1929 tourer.
  George and Joy Mooney from Bournemouth, Hants. in a 1934 Cambridge special.
  Stan Price from Carlisle and Chris Parkhurst from Aylesbury in a 1932 ‘box’ saloon.
  Veronica Garside, Wendy Hider from Swindon Wilts, and River Dukes from Nth      
  Carolina in a support car.

The Itinerary is as follows;
31st Aug to 2nd Sept.   Chicago Ill,          The Hampton Inn, Countryside.
3rd   September.          Springfield Ill.      Route 66 Hotel and Conf. Ctr.
4th   September.          Cuba                   Wagon Wheel Motel.
5th   Sept.                   Springfield Mo.    Best Western Rt. 66 Rail Haven.
6th & 7th Sept.            Claremore Ok.     Claremore Motor Inn.
8th   Sept.                   Oklahoma City.    The Carlye Motel.
9th   Sept.                   Shamrock Tx.      Irish Inn.
10th Sept.                   Tucumcari NM.     Blue Swallow Inn.
11th & 12th Sept.         Santa Fe NM        Santa Fe Motel and Inn.
13th Sept.                    Grants. NM.        Days Inn.
14th Sept.                    Holbrook  Az.      Wigwam  Motel.
15th &16th Sept.          Williams Az.        Route 66 Inn.
17th Sept.                    Kingman Az.       Hilltop Motel.
18th Sept.                    Las Vegas Nv.     Circus Circus.                            
19th Sept.                    Needles Ca.        River Valley Motor Lodge
20th Sept.                    Barstow Ca.        Route 66 Motel.
21st to 27th Sept.         Los Angeles.       Good Nite Inn, Calabasas.

Comments

[colin cooke]

Not long to go now, and you will soon be reunited with your Austins. I know this is a special event for all of you, but especially for the Garsides. I
Hope all goes well, and you have a great trip. We're looking forward to the reports along the way.
Good luck to you all,
From the Towcester Cookes.

[Don Wooldridge]

Hi Ken & Eileen
On behalf of us all in the North Herts Centre we wish you and all the entrants on Route 66 a Great and trouble free adventure.
Keep those Austin Seven wheels Rolling. We shall keep watching your progress.

Good Luck.
Don Wooldridge (Chairman NHC)

[Don Wooldridge]

Hi Ken & Eileen
From us all at North Herts Centre, we wish you all on Route 66 a Great and Trouble Free Trip and know you will keep those Austin Seven wheels Rolling.

Good Luck
Don (Chairman of NHC)

[Dan Shaffer]

I will try to link up with you in Butler, PA with my 33' American Austin.
Good luck!
Dan

[Veronica Garside]

I would like to add my grateful thanks to Vince and Ken for all the effort that they have put in to organising this trip.Ron and I had intended to do it together but we never got around to it.Also a lot of gratitude to Diana who really has made this happen. I can't wait to get to Chicago on Friday to meet up with everyone.

Veronica

[Trevor & Joy Picken from Minchinhampton U.K.]

Best wishes to Vince Leek and all the A7 Party. Wish we were with you.
Please look out for our friends Bert & Jean Westwood who hope to meet up with you in Santa Fe.
All the Bristol Austin Seven Club Members send their regards for a safe trip.
Trevor & Joy

[Bob Anderson]

Hats off to the intrepid "7" pilots and crews. Wish your Chicago stay was a week later as I have a conflict with the ACD meet in Auburn, Indiana. We would have liked to offer some hospitality. However, I would love to meet your group and have our '37 Nippy meet its cousins from the UK. We did a 1600 mile tour last year which pales before your efforts. If I can find out your schedules and availability during your Chicago stay maybe we can meet. When will you be available at your hotel in Countryside? I can be reached at my office today, Wednesday, August 30th @ 800/323-7570, at home this evening @ 847/381-0052, or any time on my cell phone @ 847/840-6543.

In any case, have a wonderful stay in the Midwest and most enjoyable and safe passage West.

Best Regards,

Bob Anderson

[Dennis & Julia Cooke]

Hi to all of you. Keeping track of your progress and really envious.
Good luck for the rest of your eppic journey
Lots of love
Dennis & Julia

[Cleo and Kae Betts Elkhart Indiana]

Hi again. We enjoyed meeting all of you at Napoleon Ohio August 30th. We followed along with the 1939 Red Bantam Roadster until we had a flat tire. We will be thinking of you making the Route 66 drive. In 2000 we drove Route 66 in our Willys Jeepster and had a most enjoyable time. Thanks for allowing us to spend some time with you. We wish you the best.

[Mary Furnell]

Hi there, hope all is well. Have a wonderful time, take care. Love to everyone. Maryxxx

[Nikki Miller]

Hello all !!! I hope your stay in Chicago was a pleasant one! We were so happy to have had you here in our big and sometimes scary city!!! Please keep me posted along your journey! I truly have to say it was wonderful to meet such great new friends! And Thank You Ken and Eileen for the ride!!!!
Happy Trails
Nikki Miller
(Chicago Illinois)

[Steve Simmons]

Your journey is so inspiring! I eagerly await your arrival in Calabasas, which is only two miles from my home. My '49 MG will certainly be visiting your Austins in the parking lot at some point. If you need any support here in Southern California please feel free to call on me. Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

[Nev, Jan, Danielle, Rebecca]

Hi mum and dad, don't worry about postcards, the pictures you are sending say it all, keep having fun and see you when you get back. The cookes from sandy

[Nev, Jan, Danielle, Rebecca]

Hi mum and dad, don't worry about postcards, the pictures you are sending say it all, keep having fun and see you when you get back. The cookes from sandy

[Alex]

I just met George and Joy in the parking lot at a super market in Calabasas. Your car is absolutely stunning and you guys are so cool! Congratulations on finishing the journey. I have to come by the hotel and see the other cars.

I hope you guys enjoy your visit in California.

Cheers,

Alex